Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Cost accounting involves the recording, classification, analysis, and allocation of costs associated with a process or product. It helps businesses determine the cost of production and set pricing strategies.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
Cost accounting is crucial for budgeting and financial planning within an organization.
It differs from financial accounting as it focuses on internal cost control rather than external financial reporting.
Common techniques used in cost accounting include job costing, process costing, and activity-based costing.
Cost accountants often work closely with management to provide data for decision-making and performance evaluation.
Understanding cost behavior and cost-volume-profit analysis are fundamental aspects of cost accounting.
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Related terms
Job Costing: A method that assigns costs to specific production jobs or batches.
Process Costing: A costing method where costs are assigned to each process or stage of production.
Activity-Based Costing: A methodology that assigns overhead and indirect costs to related products and services based on their activities.